The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-18
FREE GIVING.

The people responded generously to the
call of their leader for means and materials
to construct an appropriate place of worship,
and to maintain fitting opportunity for
their spiritual education. Having been duly
notified of the work to be done, and its needs,
those "whose hearts stirred them up' and
"whose spirits made them willing" all who
were "willing hearted both men and wo
men contributed freely and generously, gold,
and silver and brass "copper" and wood, and
jewelry of precious metals and stones, and
yarns and woven fabrics, and leather, and
skilled labor, and whatever was needed to
accomplish all that God had commanded
through His servant Moses. The women who
were skilled in the art-were wise and willing
spun the wooden and fiaxen yarns, and the
men who were like minded and hearted
wove them into cloth for the draperies and
covering of the sacred tent. Other men gave
precious metals, stones and wood. The
princes contributed the jewels for adjoining
the sacred vestments, and the precious ONT
ments and costly perfumes to be employed
in the ceremonies Of conservation and wor-
ship. All who contributed appear to have
given freely and according to their station
and means. They were willing toscontribute
more than was needed (xxxvi. SD, though
the tabernacle when completed and furnished
was magnifcently elegant and costly. The
estimated cost was much more than mill
ion dollars. The Israelites were not paupers,
though they had been greatly oppressed, but
were thrifty and prosperous, characteristics
HI 70 in, nrrP
times. The precious metals were marvel
ously abundant in the ancient world, accord
ing to the testimony of the historians. So
generally did the people contribute that the
individual gifts were not necessarily large'
nor could the aggregate have been felt really
burdensome. We are informed in the ac-
count (xxxviii. 26) that the whole amount
of silver was half shekel 10 cents at most)
per capita of the enumeration which included
all males over twenty years of age. We may
conclude, however, that all did not give, as
nothing but free-will offerings were solicited,
and that then as now some gave generously,
even beyond their relative ability. But all
who gave were blessed by their giving. The
religious significance and value of the gifts
were the hearty willingness of the givers.
What is done for religion and for GoD, to
spiritually benefit the doer, must be done
cheerfully and freely. Those who are not
disposed to give, or who givegrudgingly, for
religious objects, are spiritually desolate and
unfruitful. When the tabernacle was COM
pleted and dedicated and employed for Di-
vine worship, how rich and tender must have
been the emotions of those who had contrib
uted to its erection and appointments, and
how much more impressive as a symbol of the
Divine presence must it have been, and how
much more of religion it must have meant
to them than to others Their contributions
were liberal spiritual education.
In the vision of the Revelator already re-
ferred to, the tabernacle is employed as a
symbol of Christianity, the kingdom of GoD
in the world. 1t is the mission of Christianity
and the Church to build this tabernacle of
COP and make every soul dwelling place of
the Divine Spirit The great Head of the
Church calls for free-will offerings and self
denying service to carry forward this grand
work of righteousness and truth. The con-
stituted authorities of the Church call for the
peoples free and generous gifts to enlarge its
courts, multiply its shrines, and extend its
dominions, and for means to carry the Cos
pei, with it's promises of eternal life and sal
walton, to the ends of the earth.
The church is worth even more than all we
are able and willing to do for it. The most
We can do is worth more to US than to all
others. 1t is the glory of CHRIST that he gave
himself in establishing it. What are we do
ing and what are we willing to do, as pro-
fessed disciples of His, to maintain and ex-
tend it2 We ought TO sufficiently support